The Leafs currently have a close to 50-50 chance of facing either the Bruins or Lightning in the first round of the playoffs. (It's extremely unlikely at this point that Toronto misses the postseason.)

Who would you rather see them play? Who do they have a better chance of beating?

Tampa ... i think they matchup better with them, and even if they do lose it will be fuuuuun to watch. Long term it might be good for matthews to go head to head with bergeron for a whole series ... but it will be tough for us to beat then

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James M.

STAFF

Feb 14, 6:23am

11 likes

That game Monday was fantastic theatre. One of Leafs' best games all season, entertainment wise.

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Rahul N.

Feb 14, 6:23am

1 like

Boston, because I feel we can go the distance if we eliminate them early.

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Brad B.

Feb 14, 11:18am

2 likes

See, I feel the opposite is true. If Toronto can out-offense TB, they'll (read as: Matthews line) arguably feel a lot more capable matching up against the Bergerons, Charas and Krejcis (sp?).

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Shane P.

Feb 14, 6:30am

4 likes

I'd rather see them face the Bruins. I think they wear the Bruins down with their speed over a 7 game series and the games progressively favour the Leafs

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Sean P.

Feb 14, 6:31am

3 likes

Tampa if Vasilevsky becomes Vasi-leaky....Edmonton got 6 on him last week...

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Wayne E.

Feb 14, 7:02am

3 likes

Tampa. Especially, if TML has home ice. Home ice advantage is essential IMO to beating either squad. Leafs will need last change in as many games as possible in order to win.
Regardless, it will be an epic battle.

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Michael N.

Feb 14, 7:29am

4 likes

They both have really great teams but I think Toronto has more depth offensively then Boston so id rather face them. The leafs might be able to out score bruins which is obviously how you win. Plus Rask and the B's have to cool down eventually...... right?

Boston supposedly has the more flawed roster, but in the aftermath of the loss to Boston and the win against Tampa, I'm not feeling it. Ideally I'd like to grab the division lead and face a Metro wildcard team.

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Thrillho ..

Feb 14, 12:09pm

6 likes

I wonder how Bruins (Leafs or Lightning?) and Lightning (Bruins or Leafs?) fans would answer this question.

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Carson R.

Feb 14, 12:18pm

5 likes

I'm starting to think that it'd be more fun to watch them play Tampa, and they may have a better chance of beating them too. I think against Tampa the Leafs would have more of a chance to play the style the team is most suited to, whereas against Boston they'd likely be forced to play a slower style. I also think Boston plays a style that tends to walk the line between what's a penalty and what's not, and with the playoff tendency to 'let them play' that might not work out so well for the Leafs.

I think they're a deeper and overall better team than the Bruins, but I'm not sure they can play their best games against the Bruins. That and the Monday night game against Tampa was great and who wouldn't want a series of that?

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Eric J.

Feb 15, 6:57pm

My fear against Tampa is that they will victimize us in the match up game if they have home ice advantage. If they can pick and choose who to play their incredible top line against that hurts us!

The last game against Boston has left a sour taste in everyone's mouth when it comes to Matthew's ability to get out of Bergeron's shadow, but I think they will be able to figure this out.

I would rather watch a Tampa series, and I think beating them would give us the confidence to make a run. But if the goal is to get out of the first round, Boston seems like an easier route.

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Mike M.

Feb 14, 12:21pm

2 likes

I vote for TB based on the entertaining game we saw on Monday.

As for success - I think it depends more on the Leafs how they do rather than their opponents. Andersen needs to continue to play well and Babs needs to ice the best players and the top kids need to be going to score some goals.

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Andrew M.

Feb 14, 1:04pm

Boston Bruins, exorcise the demons of that 2013 game 7

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Eric J.

Feb 15, 6:58pm

I remember the time and place of two hockey events in my life.
The Golden Goal, and the game 7 collapse that still haunts my nightmares

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Jon B.

Feb 14, 1:19pm

Tampa

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Dan P.

Feb 14, 1:37pm

2 likes

Let's just blow past them and let them play each other in the first round.

Right now, I'd say Tampa but only because the Bruins have been on fire for the past 25 games, while Tampa has struggled lately. It really depends on who's playing better come playoff time!

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Gavin W.

Feb 14, 1:38pm

5 likes

Boston. Their last month of schedule has a game every two nights. They won’t make it out of the first round.

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Alex B.

Feb 14, 1:50pm

1 like

Who cares. We gotta beat em both to get to the ecf ;)

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Eric B.

Feb 14, 1:52pm

1 like

If Boston finishes first, there's a good chance that they play a team that you DO NOT want to play in round one like Pittsburgh or Philly, so I'd much rather have them after something like that. I just think that the Bergeron/Marchand line is too good to play when they're fresh. The Leafs can take Tampa without being as banged up afterwards.

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Stephen C.

Feb 14, 5:38pm

3 likes

If you think the Pens are finishing in a wild card spot, you haven’t been paying attention

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Graeme N.

Feb 14, 2:03pm

2 likes

Tampa Bay. Their defence, past Hedman/Stralman is shocking. Although, my heart is saying Boston, because I want revenge for Game 7.

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Ryan M.

Feb 14, 7:25pm

1 like

Agreed. Although look for Stevie Y to try hard to add a D. They've been linked heavily to Green and McDonaugh.

Bruins are apparently in the McDonaugh sweepstakes too. Both the Bruins and Lightning will make more of a deadline impact than the Leafs IMO.

I do think with the way Andersen has played since November, that the Buds have the potential to beat any team when they're rolling as they are now.

All in all, until the Bruins cool off. I'm going with Tampa. Vasileskiy has not been that good in the New Year.

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Nathan A.

Feb 14, 2:16pm

2 likes

The guys in that locker room that are still around are going to want to beat the bruins into the underworld. Psychological advantage goes to Leafs, if they can use it right.

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COLIN L.

Feb 14, 2:23pm

3 likes

Wasn't that long along we just wanted to make the playoffs. I would prefer Tampa

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Adam C.

Feb 14, 2:31pm

2 likes

As much as I'd love 2013 revenge, I'd say Tampa. The Leafs are an underdog in either situation, but I think they match up better trading chances with Tampa over dealing with the Bruins' cycle.

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Giancarlo D.

Feb 14, 3:02pm

1 like

Recency bias goes with Tampa; That road game in Boston was a real wakeup call, Bruins really shut the Leafs down, especially their speed game.
I guess it depends on the moves or lack thereof the 3 teams make before the deadline, but I still lean towards the Lightning, Leafs young troublemakers went wild on that defence.

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Kyle D.

Feb 14, 3:22pm

2 likes

Boston has way less forward depth. Leafs just need to shut down Bergeron Marchand and Pasternak and leafs can out score then in seven game series. Leafs have matched up well against Bruins this year and last year.

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Stuart M.

Feb 14, 3:26pm

2 likes

Tampa, we match up better against. Also, think that would be a more fun series to watch.

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Ryan B.

Feb 14, 3:50pm

4 likes

I think the leafs are far more suited to play Tampa with a speed vs speed matchup. If we play Boston Babs is gonna be line matching like a mad man and I think we may just play like a defensive shell which is not how we should play

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Alex S.

Feb 14, 3:55pm

3 likes

Honestly think it’s Boston. Their supernova streak won’t last. I think the Leafs speed game can make a huge difference and I don’t think they’re as deep in their line-up as Tampa is.

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Kristel A.

Feb 14, 4:10pm

2 likes

If the Matthews line can just break even on the road against Bergeron, and the rest of the forward lines take advantage of the Bruins' shallowness there, they might have a chance. I'm a little fearful of the Bruins D-Core and how the Leafs stack up against them, not to mention Tuukka Rask in beast mode.

Regardless of the outcome, having to see Pastrnak v Nylander alone would be worth it for me.

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bobby S.

Feb 14, 4:38pm

1 like

Boston

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Lenny S.

Feb 14, 4:49pm

5 likes

Instinctively Boston is more attractive, but their Dmen match up better against us. Beyond Hedman, I'm not sure TBL has the quality on the backend to shut our fwd group down. So I'd probably say TBL at this point in time. We'd be heavy heavy underdogs in either case.

These new playoff matchup rules are a joke. What's the point of racking up so many points in the season if we have to go through the two best teams in the league in the first two playoff rounds

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ash S.

Feb 14, 4:53pm

3 likes

Doesn't matter how we win 16

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Andrew C.

Feb 14, 5:11pm

3 likes

Bruins are the better matchup. Finding a way to slow down Bergerons line is all thats needed to win. Tampa Bay is much deeper and could do some serious playoff damage this season.

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Andrew C.

Feb 14, 5:23pm

Great point...

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Josh B.

Feb 14, 5:40pm

1 like

Tampa is the better matchup because of their much weaker defence. Boston would force us into a up and comer vs veteran situation that might be tough for the Leaf lineup unless Kadri comes up big. Either way, we likely will need to beat both.

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Eric J.

Feb 14, 5:50pm

1 like

Boston. The Leafs have the ability to beat their monster first line with depth, especially over a 7 game series.

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C D.

Feb 14, 7:00pm

Better matchup? Well that all depends, who provides the best opportunity for the Leafs to advance? I'd say Tampa, they just match up better (also this would be the far more entertaining matchup). For their longterm development, especially for Matthews, would be the Boston match up.

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Cameron B.

Feb 14, 8:39pm

Tampa

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griffin C.

Feb 14, 8:59pm

1 like

Tampa. Patrice Bergeron can neutralize their offence better than anyone in the league.

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Amanda Y.

Feb 14, 10:33pm

Tampa. Better match up and seems like it’ll be way more entertaining.

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Seth F.

Feb 14, 11:19pm

I think we matchup better against the Bolts. Plus those two teams in a 7 game series would be insanely fun. A 2nd round revenge would be sweet against the Bruins would be a nice touch too.

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Joe D.

Feb 15, 1:11am

For odds of winning I like Boston. Older slower, and the Lights are going to be hungry after missing last year. On the other hand, I'd rather meet Boston in the second round too. A Lightning team with momentum may be even worse.

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Christopher L.

Feb 15, 1:44am

Tampa, I dont want to hear the story line about last time with Boston and I don't think the players do either

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james B.

Feb 15, 2:06am

I'll tell you this between the 2nd and 3rd of tonight's game - they don't want to play Columbus in a first-round WC matchup.

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Chris M.

Feb 15, 3:14am

1 like

boston

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Geoff L.

Feb 15, 3:15am

2 likes

Don't know if I can handle all the "it was 4-1" cracks that a B's matchup would entail. That being said, would be nice to exorcise those demons.

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Evan B.

Feb 15, 4:11am

Boston i think the leafs will handle them pretty well in a 7 game series. Tampa will be tough to beat four times

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Rock M.

Feb 15, 4:55am

Boston....just to rub matches noise in it. 😎

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Luke M.

Feb 15, 5:21am

Boston. Look at there schedule for the last month. Play every second day and a couple back to backs.Could be burnt out by playoffs.

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Hey Stripes !.

Feb 15, 6:47am

Tampa

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Bruce B.

Feb 15, 6:13pm

Boston

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Michael B.

Feb 15, 6:33pm

Hard to say Boston because of our last game against them where we were dominated all over the ice. That being said we did win the previous 5 games against the Bruins. Tampa is so deep offensively I think they are still the best team in the east.

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Michael Z.

Feb 15, 7:26pm

Platinum Blonde said it best. It doesn't really matter.

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Matthew T.

Feb 16, 2:45am

1 like

Clearly Tampa. Teams that play a heavier game, like Boston, give our D trouble. Anyone super-confident we could beat a team like Columbus in a 7-game series? Nashville? Anaheim?

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Julian M.

Feb 16, 2:45am

Would love to exercise demons but I really don’t think it matters right now. Still time for momentum swings And IMO that’s the most important factor. Who’s hot and who’s cold going in?

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Peter B.

Feb 16, 4:50pm

Tampa

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Habs Fan 1.

Feb 16, 11:28pm

I just don't see them beating either team, unless they pick up some help on defense by the trade deadline. Kudos to their great season, however.